Roll-film-developing rack



C. W. SMITH AND H. S. KIDWELL.

ROLL FILM DEVELOPING RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.17,1920.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

EE===E=E===EE===E UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. SMITH AND HARRY S. KIDWELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ROLL-FILM-DEVELOPING RACK.

Application filed January 17, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it ,known that we, CHARLES WM. SMITH and HARRY S. KInwELL, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roll-Film-Developing Racks, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The invention relates to the tank develop ment, fixing and washing of films and has for an object the provision of a rack for supporting films in the tanks in such a manner that the films will not become displaced from the holding means, will not come into contact with each other and may be conveniently inserted and withdrawn.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawin s in which *igure 1 is a vertical transverse section through a tank showing a side elevation of a rack in place;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one rack;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a single hanger;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of rack,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6-6 of Fi 5, and

Fig. 7 is a detail side view of the parts in a possible position while being handled.

It is the usual practice in the commercial development of films, to. immerse them in a tank of developer for a definite length of time, to transfer them to a rinsing water then to a fixing bath and finally to a washing bath where the fixing solution. is thoroughly removed.

A'tank which may be utilized for one of the baths is indicated in the drawings at 10 and films in the process of treatment at 11. As is usual practice each film is shown as having a weight 12 attached to its lower end and as suspended by a form of clip 13 which is well known.

As a support for the clips 13 carrying the films, the invention provides a plate 14 which in the form of Figs. 1 to 3, is made of a single thickness of sheet metal with marginal stiffening portions 15, 16. This plate is preferably provided with a handle, as

Patented DecQY, 1920. Serial No. 352,191.

17, by which the plate and all films carried thereby may be llfted bodily from the tank. 10 locate the plate 14 upon the sides of the tank so that neither outside film may come in contact with its adjacent side of the tank a spacing member 18 is shown applied to each end of the plate. This member 18 may desirably be of the form indicated in 1 1g. 6 and when applied to the plate of the form of Figs. 1 to 8, may have its ends passed through holes in the plate, and then clenched, as shown in Fig. 3 at 19.

A plurality of supporting hooks 20 are shown as applied to plate 14. The form of hook at present preferred, as illustrated in perspective in Fig. 4, may be made of wire. As shown, the hook comprises a vertical portion which is designed to be attached to the supporting plate, as 14, in some manner that will hold the hook rigid against motlon in any direction. This may be accompllshed when a metal plate is to be utillzed by passing the vertical portion 21 through a hole in the plate and then bendmg a portion, as 22, into a horizontal position, the extremity, as 28, of this portion being passed through a second hole in plate 14 and then being clenched. A great tendency to motion of the hooks 20 is toward side swaying caused by swinging of the films. Such motion would take place about portion 22 as an axis if this portion were in the plane of the hook 20. Provision is made to prevent such motion by'bending the portion 22 at an angle, preferably of about 45, from the plane of the hook 20, as clearly shown in the plan view of Fig. 3.

In the form of hook shown in Fig. 4 the wire is bent into a horizontal portion 24, a loop 25, a second horizontal portion 26, a vertical portion 27 and a hooked extremity 28. The two portions 24 and 26 are preferably in alinement and in function constitute a single member which will. be referred to as a clip receiving member. The extent of this member is preferably substantially equal to the width of the clip 13. Side swaying of the clips, and therefore to a certain extent of the films, is prevented by the presence of loop 25 within the clip when the latter is in place on the hook.

The function of extremity 28 is clearly illustrated by Fig. 7. If the plate 14 be inadvertently tilted in handling, the clips, with the films and weight, as pendulums,

will slide toward the position shown. In the absence of the hooked extremity 28 the clips would slide from the hooks and the films might be damaged, but such an accident is rendered impossible by the presence of the member 28. In removing the clips by hand the edge of the clip is readily lift-- ed over this member 28, when the clip is freely removable.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a wooden plate 29 is indicated. When this material is used the vertical member 21 of the hook may be bent at right angles to provide a horizontal portion 30 which may be turned upwardly and inwardly, as at 31, 32. The portion 32 may be inserted in a hole in the plate 29 and the portion 30 may be secured to plate 29, as by a staple 33. In this form of the device the member 18 may be provided with upwardly turned extremities 3e projecting into holes in the plate 29 and maybe secured to the plate 29, s by staples 35. The operation of the modification of Figs. 5 and 6 is identical with that of Figs. 1 to 8 and 7.

By the use of the present invention the films can be handled with less space between them since their liability to swing into contact, which would ruin the film, is reduced if not removed. Therefore many more films can be developed in a tank of given size and a larger number of films can be inserted, moved or removed at a single motion than before.

lVe claim as our invention:

1. A film development rack comprising, in combination, a plate, means upon said plate for supporting films, means for attaching films to said supporting means and means for preventing side sway of said attaching means.

2'. A film development rack comprising, in

combination, a plate, means upon said plate for supporting films, means for attaching films to said supporting means, means for preventing side sway of said attaching means and means to locate said plate upon the sides or" a tank.

3. A film development rack comprising, in combination, a plate, means upon said plate for supporting films, means for attachment to a film and engageable with said supporting means and means upon said. supporting means to prevent said second-named means from sliding therefrom when said plate is tilted.

at. A film development rack comprising, in combination, a plate, means upon said plate for supporting films, means for attachment to a film and engageable with said supporting means, means upon said supporting means to prevent said second-named means from sliding therefrom when said plate is tilted, and means to locate said plate on the sides of a tank.

5. A film development rack comprising, in combination, a plate, a film supporting member rigidly secured thereto comprising a substantially horizontal film clip receiving member spaced from said plate, a downward projection on said member to prevent clip swaying and an upstanding portion at an end of said member to retain a clip thereon.

6. A film development rack comprising, in combination, a plate, a film supporting member rigidly secured thereto comprising a substantially horizontal film clip receiving member spaced from said plate, a downward projection on said member to prevent clip swaying, an upstanding portion at an end of said member to retain a clip thereon, and an angularly projecting extremity on said portion to retain a clip when said plate is tilted.

T. A hook for a film development rack comprising, in combination, a supporting member, a horizontal clip receiving member, a projection depending from and rigid with said member adapted to prevent swaying of a film clip and an upstanding clip retaining member.

8. A hook for a film development rack comprising, in combination, a supporting iember, a horizontal clip receiving member, a projection depending from and rigid with said member adapted to prevent swaying of a film clip, an upstanding clip retaining member and means projecting from said clip retaining member to retain a clip thereon when said hook is tilted.

9. A hook for a film development rack comprising, in combination, a piece of wire bent to provide a vertical supporting member. a horizontal portion forming a part of a film clip receiving member, a loop formed by bending the wire downwardly from said horizontal portion then upwardly to a point adjacent its downward bend, a second horizontal portion forming a continuation of the film clip receiving member and a vertical clip retaining member.

10. A hook for a film development rack comprising, in combination, a piece of wire bent to provide a vertical supporting member. a horizontal portion forming a part of a film clip receiving member, a loop formed by bending the wire downwardly from said horizontal portion then upwardly to a point adjacent its downward bend, a second horizontal portion forming a continuation of the film clip receiving member, a vertical clip retaining member, and an angularly directed extremity.

CHARLES 'W. SMITH. HARRY S. KIDWELL. 

